“My what?” Audrey asked.
I locked eyes with Liam, who was glaring at me, but his expression was melting in real time. As if his initial reaction was anger, that was now simmering into something more resigned. He still maintained his hold on Audrey, though.
“Nothing, we should go.”
“Were you about to refer to Liam as my mate?” Audrey’s nostrils flared with indignation, shoving herself out of Liam’s arms as she spat. “Because you should not make fun of something like that, Van. Mating bonds are sacred here, you can’t just?—"
“Audrey.” Liam pulled on her arm, drawing her attention toward him. Audrey’s mouth dropped open, disbelief coloring her face. Liam’s gaze was hooded, his jaw flexed as he ground his teeth together. His shoulders were hunched with stress, and he kept staring at the little space that separated the two of them.
“Liam? What are you…?” Audrey whispered.
Liam gave me one last look, as if to accept his fate, before turning to Audrey. “I’m sorry I haven’t told you earlier.”
Audrey’s mouth snapped closed, and she ripped her hand from his. “Explain to me exactly what you’re implying.”
“Let me take you both home first.”
“Good idea.” I nodded.
Even I was able to see that accidentally announcing that Liam and Audrey were mates was a real dick move on my part. I wanted to apologize to Audrey about it, but I hadn’t had the time to, yet. The two of them were currently in her room, murmuring in low voices. Eventually, her bedroom door flew open, and their voices grew louder.
I was sitting at my desk, layering a soft violin over my track, when I paused what I was doing and stood to investigate.
“Aud, please—” Liam’s voice sounded desperate. I quietly opened my door and tiptoed down the hallway to see Audrey pacing back and forth in our living room.
“Why didn’t yousayanything?” Audrey grumbled. She was in her angry phase of this revelation, which I fully understood.
“What was Isupposedto say?” Liam threw his hands up in the air. “Hi, I’m fae, and half of your lineage is from my realm—none of which you’ve ever heard of before—and also, you’re my mate, so every facet of your life is over.”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall, still ignored by the two of them.
Audrey grumbled before stomping toward him and jabbing a finger in his chest. “You could have saidanythingover the lasttwoyears, you asshole! Were youevergoing to tell me?” He snatched her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. Ipulled away from the wall, standing tall and ready in case she needed me to intervene.
The men in Hyvenmere were entirely too comfortable putting their hands on women, as Drustan proved earlier tonight. I could still feel his fingers trailing against my lower stomach, his huge body pressed against mine.
Shaking my head once, I focused back on the drama in front of me.
“I was waiting for you to recognize it. To feel the bondyourself,” Liam murmured in her face, holding direct eye contact. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me, Audrey?” His voice was shifting, and I could see Audrey’s cheeks blush as she held her glare on him. “I’ve been so close to my mate foryears.” Liam pressed his forehead to hers. “Able to touch her. Hear her voice. Smell her. Discover everything about her…why would I risk such a gift by scaring you off with the permeance of a mating bond youjustlearned about?”
Audrey didn’t say anything. They just stood there. Wrapped up with each other. I thought maybe they’d kiss or something, like in the movies. But Audrey grumbled and pushed herself out of his arms.
I cleared my throat and strode through the space. They both glared at me. Flustered. Clearly horny.
“I’m just getting some tea,” I murmured. “Then you two can go back to whatever the hell you’re doing.”
Liam cleared his throat, and Audrey crossed her arms over her chest. I whistled my new favorite tune I picked up on during our last dangerous visit to Hyvenmere while I microwaved my water and grabbed a tea bag.
After what must have been an uncomfortable amount of time for the two of them, I turned around and studied them, my mug in hand.
“Look,” I sighed toward Audrey. “I’m so sorry I just blurted it out. Liam only told me about it yesterday. And regardless of my promising not to say anything, as your friend, I should have just told you. That being said…maybe you should cut Liam alittlebit of slack.”
Liam’s blue eyes shot to mine, surprise evident in his expression. I rarely sided with him. But I was trying.
Audrey raised a brow at me. “What?”
“And,” I continued, addressing Liam. “I think you should cuthersome slack.” I sipped my tea, desperate to cut through the mess of emotions filling the space and get on with things. “She’s been popping bean to the thought of you for two years and is just now realizing how much she’s been missing out on the real thing. Sexual frustration is real, my guy.”
Audrey’s mouth dropped as her face turned red with humiliation.
